Albany Convention Center
This article needs to be updated.(August 2023) |
Albany Convention Center | |
---|---|
Broadway | |
Location | Albany, New York |
Coordinates | 42°38′49.39″N 73°45′8.91″W / 42.6470528°N 73.7524750°W |
Owner | Albany Convention Center Authority |
Operator | ASM Global |
Opened | N/A |
Construction cost | $220 million (projected) |
Enclosed space | |
• Total space | 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) (projected) |
• Exhibit hall floor | 1 |
• Ballroom | 2 |
Website | |
http://www.accany.com/ |
The Albany Convention Center (ACC) was a proposed
In December 2013, Governor Andrew Cuomo approved plans for a different, smaller convention center to be built at the intersection of Howard and Eagle Streets. That convention center, which became known as the Albany Capital Center, was largely paid for using the state grant that had been set aside for the ACC; it opened on March 1, 2017. As of November 2016, there were no plans to develop the proposed site of the Albany Convention Center. In April 2018, the Albany Times Union reported that the ACCA wished to sell the proposed site of the Albany Convention Center for $1.
History
Initial plans
The plan originated with Albany Mayor
Plans expanded quickly and by early 2003, estimates had reached $185 million with 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) and parking for up to 1,500 cars. By this time a Jennings-appointed convention center task force had yet to decide on a site. The top two locations were west of the
Government support
In June 2004, with the support of Governor
In 2005, Albany County's three-percent hotel tax was increased to five percent; a year later, it was increased to six percent. The additional tax was expected to raise $3 million annually in an effort to pay off the ACCA's $8.5 million estimated annual cost.[Note 1][8] Many local hotel owners and managers opposed the increased tax since the proceeds were funding a future competitor.[9]
In early 2008, after a study by an architectural firm, the estimated cost was increased to almost $400 million. Jennings, the original proposer of the ACC, responded to this estimate by indicating the plan might no longer be viable. Members of the Authority, however, disagreed. At this time the plans were revised to include a 244,000-square-foot (22,700 m2) convention center, a 400-room
With the state only approving about $200 million (including a $75 million grant from Governor Pataki), the ACCA made it clear in April 2008 that state tax money should pay for the difference ($190 million) in funding the project.
While ACCA board member (and Albany Assemblyman) Jack McEneny stated his belief that the ACC would eventually pay for itself through its revenue, the Empire Center for Public Policy described it as "a white elephant from the start. Here at a time where our borrowing is already excessive and our state budget is already overcommitted, you're talking about bailing out a project that was unnecessary to begin with." A study sponsored by the ACCA projected that the ACC would bring in 50 to 85 events annually, each lasting one to four days; 100,000 to 185,000 more annual visitors are expected to the city as a result.[14]
In November 2009, the ACCA revealed its design for the ACC, developed by HNTB. The ACCA was able to reduce its earlier $400 million estimate by turning hotel and parking garage development over to private developers. This brought the cost estimate down to between $225 million and $240 million. After considering the cost of goods and commodities during the economic recession, the estimate dropped again to $220 million.[15][16]
Because the project was not shovel-ready at the time, the ACC was not eligible for stimulus funds.[17]
Amid large cuts proposed by Andrew Cuomo in his 2011 budget, the original funding for the ACC remained.[18]
Procuring land
Date | Size (acre) |
Price | Seller | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
31 Jul 2009 | 0.5 | $469,673 | Greyhound Lines | [19] |
28 Aug 2009 | 0.39 | $435,000 | Albany County | [20] |
24 Feb 2010 | 0.33 | $550,000 | Capitalize Albany Corp. | [21] |
20 Aug 2010 | 3.0 | $5,900,000 | City Square Associates | [22] |
A site between Broadway, Hudson Avenue, and the South Mall Arterial was selected as the location of the Albany Convention Center.[23] As of 2010, the proposed site consisted mostly of surface-level parking lots.[21]
In late 2008, $10 million (part of the original $75 million promised by Governor Pataki) was released by Governor Paterson to begin the acquisition of the land necessary for the project. The first piece of land, a 0.5-acre (0.20 ha) parking lot, was bought in July 2009 from Greyhound Lines at a cost of $469,673.[19] In August 2009, the Albany County Legislature approved the sale of nine vacant county-owned lots—totaling 0.39 acres (0.16 ha)—to the ACCA at a cost of $453,000.[20] In February 2010, the ACCA bought about 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) of land, which brought its total to about 1.5 acres (0.61 ha).[21] In August 2010 it purchased about 3 acres (1.2 ha) of land at a cost of $5.9 million. After this sale, the ACCA had acquired about 75% of the land necessary for the project.[22]
Proposed design
The proposed design of the Albany Convention Center called for a brick and glass structure with an exhibition hall, two ballrooms and other various meeting spaces totaling about 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2).[15] In early 2008, it was announced that the site would include a 400-room Sheraton Hotel, to be run by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc., of White Plains; a 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m2) convention center, to be operated by SMG Management (the company that operates the Times Union Center), and an 1,100-car parking garage. A bridge would also connect the convention center to the Times Union Center.[9] The back of the center would face the South Mall Arterial, and there would be loading docks on that side of the structure. A plaza near the center of the complex would face Broadway. The design allowed for future expansion of the convention space.[15]
The
Controversy
There was significant opposition to the proposed Albany Convention Center. Some opponents argued that Albany did not need a new convention center at all, others suggested that the ACCA consider expanding current convention facilities, and still others proposed moving the project to the
Albany Capital Center
In December 2013, Governor Andrew Cuomo approved plans for a different, smaller convention center to be built at the intersection of Howard and Eagle Streets.[28] That convention center became known as the Albany Capital Center. The Albany Capital Center, which cost $78 million and was largely paid for using the $75 million state grant that had been set aside for the ACC,[28][16][29] opened on March 1, 2017.[30] The Albany Capital Center is a meeting, ballroom, and exhibit venue.[31] It can accommodate up to 5,000 people, with 22,500 square feet of exhibit space, six meeting rooms with 9,200 square feet of space, and 13,500 square feet of pre-function space.[31]
Abandonment of project and later developments
As of November 2016, there were no plans to develop the proposed site of the Albany Convention Center; the ACCA had reportedly "spent $8 million for the properties, and another $3.8 million on site costs for the $220 million-plus convention center and hotel that never happened."[28]
In April 2018, the Albany Times Union reported that the ACCA wished to sell portions of the proposed site of the Albany Convention Center to Capitalize Albany Corp.—a nonprofit economic development organization—for one dollar; Capitalize Albany reportedly expressed interest in redeveloping the property, which was described by the Times Union as a "commercial dead zone of parking lots, decrepit buildings and the former Adirondack Trailways bus station."[32]
Notes
See also
- Capital District Transportation Authority
- Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority
- New York Convention Center Operating Corporation
- New York State Archives
- Olympic Regional Development Authority
- Port of Albany-Rensselaer
- Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
- United Nations Development Corporation
- The Egg, Albany
References
- ^ Lebrun, Fred (2010-03-28). "Another Step In a Complex Dance". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. D1. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ "Wanted: Convention Center, Hotel Sites". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. 2002-02-13. p. B4. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ Duggan, Erin (2002-04-19). "Albany Convention Center Proposals Are In". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B4. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ Harlan, Kevin (2002-12-15). "Lure of Profits Propels Plan". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. E1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ Nearing, Brian (2003-04-29). "Breslin Backs County Hotel Tax". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ Duggan, Erin (2004-06-24). "State Leaders Exit Angry". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. A1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ^ Woodruff, Cathy; James M. Odato (2003-06-17). "Lawmakers Alter Plan for Convention Center". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B3. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ^ a b O'Brien, Tim (2008-03-09). "Extension of Hotel Tax at Issue". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. E1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ a b c O'Brien, Tim (2008-01-31). "Pet Project Now in Doghouse". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. A1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ "Yes, a Convention Center". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. 2008-02-03. p. B4. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ Odato, James M. (2008-04-16). "A Cost Shift for Convention Center?". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. A3. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ Odato, James M. (2008-04-18). "Outside Scrutiny for Center". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. A1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ O'Brien, Tim (2008-06-17). "Convention Center Authority Digging In". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. D1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ O'Brien, Tim (2008-08-30). "Expenses Won't Wait for Convention Site". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b c Churchill, Chris (2009-11-20). "Designs on Downtown Albany's Future". Times Union (Albany). p. A1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b Jordan Carleo-Evangelist (2016-04-19). "State backs $12M more for Albany convention center costs". Times Union (Albany). Retrieved 2018-07-04.
- ^ DeMasi, Michael (2009-01-30). "No Money in Stimulus Package for Convention Center". The Business Review (Albany). American City Business Journals, Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ^ Carleo-Evangelist, Jordan (2011-02-02). "Governor's Budget Keeps Convention Center Alive". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved 2011-02-02.
- ^ a b Carleo-Evangelist, Jordan (2009-08-01). "Deal Signals Start of Acquisition". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B4. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b Carleo-Evangelist, Jordan (2009-08-29). "Center Land Buys Grow". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B8. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b c d Churchill, Chris (2010-02-25). "Convention Center Land Buys Continue". Times Union (Albany). p. C1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ^ a b Carleo-Evangelist, Jordan (2010-08-27). "Convention center pieces fall into place". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ Churchill, Chris (2009-11-20). "Designs on downtown Albany's future". Times Union (Albany). Retrieved 2018-07-04.
- ^ "Albany Preservation Report" (PDF). Historic Albany Foundation. Spring 2007. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
- ^ Grondahl, Paul (2008-12-23). "This Old House Under Our Noses". Times Union (Albany). p. D1. Archived from the original on 2011-04-30. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ Bray, Paul (2010-02-14). "Forget About an Albany Convention Center". Times Union (Albany). p. B2. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ Churchill, Chris (2009-08-17). "Build It and There May Be a Labor Shortage". Times Union (Albany). p. A1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b c Lauren Stanforth (2016-11-27). "As Albany's Capital Center rises, old site crumbles". Times Union (Albany). Retrieved 2018-07-04.
- ^ John Cropley (2016-03-14). "In Albany, public-private partnership brought convention center to life". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
- ^ "Albany's Capital Center opens". Times Union (Albany). 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
- ^ a b "Discover Albany". Albany Capital Center. Albany, New York. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Madison Iszler (2018-04-13). "What to do with downtown Albany's biggest vacant lot?". Times Union (Albany). Retrieved 2018-07-04.